VIDEO: Gwyneth Paltrow's Country Transformation

She's not the likeliest candidate for a good ol' Nashville country star, but Gwyneth Paltrow does a good job of pretending.

Though her patrician blonde good looks have been put to use playing elegant aristocratic types in movies like The Talented Mr. Ripley and Shakespeare In Love, she's trying out something different as an alcoholic country star in her upcoming movie, Country Strong. Paltrow, 38, spent a few months down in Tennessee to get into character for the part, and the effort shows.

"Never have I met such warm people, heard such good music, eaten so much fried chicken. I could go on and on," she raved about Nashville in her GOOP newsletter. She also relied on musician husband Chris Martin for pointers as she learned to play the guitar. "He was so helpful, so sweet and encouraging," she said in Harper's Bazaar. "I mean, it's embarrassing to be playing in front of your husband, especially when he's in one of the world's most successful bands." The film will be released on December 22, 2010 and also stars Leighton Meester, Tim McGraw and Garrett Hedlund. –AMY LEE

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